Summer = Hot Dogs and Cool Cats

Patapsco Valley View

Summertime = Hot Dogs and Cool Cats! Volume 6 Summer 2012

Summertime, and the living is easy.... well, not really if you have a fur coat and the heat index is 100 degrees!

Heat can be a dangerous enemy for your pet. If you're uncomfortable in the heat, imagine wearing a fur coat. Your pet can't tell you that he's miserable, so it's up to you to use your personal experience to keep your pet comfortable.

Always make sure that your pet has a protected place away from the direct sunlight. A spot under a shady tree can be up to ten degrees cooler and will protect your pet from becoming sunburned.

Most cats and dogs enjoy being with the family in the air conditioning, but some prefer to be outside. These pets need to be monitored regularly, and they need access to cool places to lay down and plenty of available clean water.

Make sure your pet does not overexercise in the hot weather, keep play sessions short and fun, followed by a cool down time. If your dog is used to five mile walks every day, consider walking early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are cooler, and consider shortening your travels. Remember your pet is bare footed! Streets become very hot and sometimes asphalt can burn your pet's feet, so if your pet doesn't NEED to go to PetSmart, it might be better to leave him home during the intense heat spell.

Do not let your dog drink a lot of water immediately after exercising, as this can cause stomach problems, but do let your pet have a couple licks of water frequently, or an ice cube to lick on, to keep hydrated.

Your pet may have less of an appetite in the hot weather and this can be a normal side effect of the intense heat. The best thing is to monitor your pet, and determine if smaller meals on a more frequent schedule keeps your pet eating, or whether your pet may have actually developed a health issue that needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.

If your pet has medical conditions, intense heat can exacerbate the problem so you will want to monitor your pet carefully.

Dogs may enjoy a swim during hot weather, but make sure that you keep an eye on your pet's skin and ears. Chemicals can dry out the skin causing irritation, and water can get trapped in the ear canal setting your pet up for ear problems, so always make sure your dog's ears are examined and dried out after each swim.

With a little monitoring from you, your pet should be able to wag his way through this heat wave.

Next thing you know we'll be talking about snow!

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​​The ticks are out!Protect your pets by checking his coat daily and using a reliable and safe tick control product.

​If you have questions just call us at 410-461-2235

​Remember. It's too hot to leave your pets in the car. If you can't take them with you, leave them home.

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